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Back Pain
Back pain, often referred to as back ache, is a very common problem. With reports suggesting as many as eight out of ten of us will suffer from it at some point during our lives . Around 5.6 million working days in the UK are lost each year due to back pain, second only to stress .
Back pain can affect anyone at any age, and can often be the result of a sprain or a strain of the structures of the back such as the muscles, ligaments, joints or damage to the discs. Osteoarthritis or wear and tear in the back can also be a reason.
Back pain can be brought on by lifting, moving awkwardly or by an accident. Sometimes it can come on without any specific injury to your back. Stress, depression, posture, being overweight, sedentary living and poor lifestyle habits can all be significant factors.
People can feel a range of symptoms such as stiffness, tenderness and mild to very severe pain. The pain can come on quite suddenly or over time, and be located anywhere in the spine from the top of the neck to the pelvis. Sometimes pressure from the back on the nerves can cause pain or pins and needles and numbness in the legs and arms. X-rays, scans and other tests are sometimes required to make a diagnosis. If our Osteopathy treatment cannot completely heal or discover the cause of the back pain, our Osteopaths may refer to your GP or a specialist for any additional investigation.